For my determined purpose is that I might know Him, that I might progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly. Philippians 3:10

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Because He said so

Me, myself, and fear were ‘threshing wheat in a winepress’ this week. I didn’t realize I had been until the Lord tenderly exposed an area of fear in my life. Due to a recent decision He has led me to make, He is leading me to walk in an area bigger than myself (praise Him, because that would sure be dull, pitiful, and absolutely horrid if it were 'all about me'). But apparently, somewhere in the humbling call to serve Him, Mr. Fear thought it necessary that he make his arrival. Just call me Gideon, and unfortunately, my 'Midianite' enemy was myself. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemy are we not?

Gideon, son of Joash, is ‘threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites’ in Judges 6. God had allowed the power of the Midianites to prevail over the Israelites, and they had thus been camping against them, destroying their produce, and leaving no sustenance for the Israelites. Gideon, probably scared, and simultaneously trying to preserve some food, is threshing wheat not on the threshing floor where he normally should be, but in a winepress.

An angel of the LORD then appears to Gideon, saying “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior. "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian. The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" But Lord, "Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

I love it. I love Gideon’s story because I shared his weakness this week. I love my powerful LORD stooping down into my ‘winepress’ closet of fear, calling me by a name that marks who I really am in Him, and commanding me to walk in the direction in which He has sent me. I love that the LORD calls Him a mighty warrior before He really is one. I love Gideon’s ‘But sir,’ because I think Jesus has laughed at similar such words spilling forth from my unbelieving heart. I love that I see the particular name of God, ‘LORD,’ appear over and over in this part of His Word. I love that Gideon reminds the LORD that his ‘clan is the weakest…and that he is the least’ in his family.’ (As if He didn’t already know.) It seems to me that it gives the LORD more room to show off.

Just here lately, I reminded the LORD that I am the ‘least,’ and the ‘weakest’ once He had been clear that I follow Him on this new path. I proposed my ‘but Lord…’ while He followed with a tender and stern voice to remind me that I am a ‘mighty warrior.’ Because He said so, I’ll believe it. Isn’t that reason enough?

I refuse to believe that my LORD is not with me merely because ‘this has happened (vs. 13)’ (By the way, what is your ‘this?’) I believe that ‘this’ has happened instead because He actually is with me. I believe He wants to use the platform of our hearts as a stage for His radiant glory. I believe I’ll take that privilege. I believe I’ll accept my name as ‘mighty warrior,’ hold my shield of faith up, and wield my sword. I believe I’ll not allow fear of the enemy to keep me hiding food in a winepress, and sow it by faith instead. I believe I’ll walk in the truth that I am a ‘mighty warrior.’ Maybe I haven’t stepped foot into the heat of the battle yet. Maybe I’m a little ‘weak’ looking in the perspective of the enemy. Maybe my family is the ‘least.’ But my God said that I was such, so I'm going to take Him at His Word. I pray we can start acting like the mighty warriors we are dear sisters. Because Your God is The Mighty Warrior and LORD of Hosts.

By His grace and resurrection power, I've left the winepress, put on my armor, taken a stand, and started walking. Why you might ask? Because I'm a mighty warrior - He said so...

Looking forward to your pics Shelly! My Bible study leader is right now coming back from your hometown area in GA. She and her husband had an anniversary celebration there. She said, it's beautiful!! I'll see her tomorrow for our last day of study. She's probably gonna show some pics of where your feet have tread! I enjoy your comments on the LPM blog and on Amanda's, too! I love your smile...it's a gift from God!

Hi! Thanks for stopping by. I have been looking through your posts and you have a knack for the written word. I have thoroughly enjoyed what I have read. I'm Anna, so "nice to meet you." My sister lives near ElliJay, Ga. Do you think you'll stay in the area now that you're a graduate?(Congrats, by the way!) You and your family are adorable.

Shelly, Powerful!! I mean this will teach!!! I love that God calls us mighty warriors. I was doing a study on the names of God and looked at, The Lord My Banner, after studying that, I learned that The Lord My Banner meant that God, himself, is on the battlefield. As soon as I learned that I taught it to my Sunday School class. If God is already on the battlefield, the battle has been won. He can accomplish so many things thru all of us , if like you said, we would step out and trust God!